Living Waters

Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary, so we celebrated by doing what we have done so many times through the years -- we went for a paddle. In the early years it was always in a canoe. Now we have kayaks as well, and so we drove to the Black River in the southwest of Prince Edward County which winds for several kilometres through the countryside from somewhere above the village of Millford to Lake Ontario. The photo above was taken with Ruth's phone.

You may not have heard of the Black River and we hadn't either before last year. It is one of thousands of unassuming waterways across this country. As we made our way upstream on a beautiful afternoon we enjoyed the wildlife of Spring. A pileated woodpecker pounded out the resonant "budda budda" of its excavation work on a dead tree. We were able to spot this crow-size woodpecker and drift in close to watch it at work. The chorus frogs were singing to beat the band amidst the reeds. We watched two crows harrass a pair of hawks who must have invaded their territory. Kingfishers chattered alongside us as we paddled, and we interrupted the sunning of the painted turtles, which plopped into the water as we drew close.

Even on this small, out-of-the-way river water translates into life, abundant and varied.

Today we recognized Earth Sunday as essentially Water Sunday, exploring the spiritual and practical realities of water. None of us can live without fresh water, yet we often take it for grant and even abuse it. We were reminded that Jesus described himself as living water. In fact, all religions recognize the sacred quality of water.

What is your relationship with water? Do you have favourite water places? Have you learned to have greater respect for water as a resource?